By Bernardo Moreno
Could it be a coincidence that a mega-operation captured Ovidio Guzmán, son of Chapo Guzmán, and they want to extradite him to the United States just before the North American Summit recently held in Mexico with the visit of the U.S. President Joe Biden and Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau? In addition, the trial against Genaro García Luna has started in New York with the jury selection stage. Garcia Luna was national secretary of security during Mexican President Calderón’s term. He was responsible for different strategies to combat migration, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and money laundering, among others.
García Luna has an enviable resume for any security agent. In the 90s, almost since its creation, he worked for the Mexican Federal Intelligence Agency CISEN (Center for Investigation and National Security). He later joined the Federal Preventive Police, at its inception, where he headed the Intelligence Coordination for Prevention. Later he was in charge of the Federal Judicial Police, fighting the corruption of its agents and attempting to increase the professionalism of the organization.
In 2001, Vicente Fox ordered the creation of the AFI (Federal Investigation Agency) and appointed García Luna as its head. The new organization corporation modeled itself after the FBI—with the FBI providing technical, tactical, and logistic training. Other similar police forces from Europe also got involved—all this to create an organization capable of fighting organized crime.
When President Calderón assumed office, he appointed García Luna as secretary of public security. While in charge of security at the national level, Garcia Luna created the Federal Police that reached a force of 36,000 police officers. He received national and international awards for the capture of notorious bosses. He was praised on television by many journalists for how well he did his job. He was in charge of the national strategy in the war against drug trafficking promoted by former President Calderón—without a doubt, a resounding professional career and perhaps the most informed about organized crime in Mexico. For two years he has been imprisoned in the United States accused of conspiracy, drug trafficking, false statements, and having accepted million-dollar bribes from the Sinaloa cartel.
So, is it a coincidence that with a very powerful operation by the National Guard, perhaps the only operation of such magnitude during this administration, they caught the Mouse (Ovidio’s pseudonym)? And that comes with extradition requests just before the North American summit and the trial against the super cop?
The prosecutor’s office in the United States has offered the former secretary of national security the possibility of a guilty plea as a cooperating witness. That would lead to a penalty of seven years in prison. But García Luna pleaded not guilty, and it seems as if he is waiting for something to happen, or he might sacrifice himself for those who put him in positions of so much power. It could be the trial of the century—so many names can come out from corrupt journalists, low and high-profile politicians, businessmen, former presidents, former governors, and of course collaborators, colleagues, and others. It is known that some of the witnesses on behalf of the prosecution are drug traffickers, imprisoned politicians, and journalists specializing in organized crime.
And what has Calderón said about his closest collaborator in his war on drugs? He has not said anything at all. Coincidentally, just a few days ago, he acquired a Spanish residence and has a contract as a teacher for the foundation of his good friend Aznar.
